Lehighton has given the green light to the next phase of safety improvements for its waterfront area.

Borough council last week approved a resolution authorizing borough Manager Nicole Beckett to submit the application for traffic signal approval for the flashing beacon along Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard.

Additionally, council approved a resolution authorizing Beckett to submit the traffic signal maintenance agreement and future correspondence pertaining to the flashing beacon along Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard.

Council’s decision comes after a motion to approve an option associated with the plan was stymied at a special meeting held by council last month.

At that meeting, council heard a presentation from Bryan Smith, of Barry Isett & Associates, who discussed two options with council.

Concept A includes thermoplastic pavement marking materials for crosswalks, for which the life span of the product is about five years. It also includes rumble strips, the pedestrian beacon lights, speed indicators and additional trees for landscaping. Rumble strips would be proposed along the length of the bypass.

Concept B includes a decorative brick paver for the crosswalks, along with the road surface to designate turning lanes, for which the life span of the product can be expected to last between 10-20 years.

“This application is more costly, so we would not be able to complete the entire length of the left lane,” borough Manager Nicole Beckett said. Paint would be used at the southern end. This concept includes the pedestrian beacon lights, speed indicators and additional trees.

Both concepts include the bituminous materials for the walking path along Lehigh Drive, Beckett said after that meeting.

Beckett asked Smith if the borough should look at redoing the speed limit down there, as the speed limit is 40 mph there, and if the striping should be changed.

Smith said council should absolutely look at redoing the speed limit, and added the striping would be yellow.

Beckett also discussed the potential removal of the directional sign after receiving a report that the signs are deteriorating and need to be removed.

Ashley Eichlin, of Barry Isett & Associates, reviewed the alternative concept design with council, which she said would result in traffic calming measures.

Eichlin said at that time they decided to keep the ADA ramps and crosswalks, and added there would be a speed indicator posted on Stanley Hoffman Boulevard.

The new plan includes a walking path along Lehigh Drive; pedestrian beacon lights; instead of bump-outs, there would be a textured surface in the turning lane similar to a rumble strip; decorative crosswalks; and solar power speed monitors to tell motorists their actual speed.

The borough has received a total of $480,000; $250,000 through the Multimodal Transportation Fund Program that was received last month, and $230,000 from Local Share funds that were awarded in 2020.

The work along Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard and Lehigh Drive would include a 6-foot-wide walkway, crosswalks, curb extensions, ADA ramps and signs.

In addition, the continuous left-turn lane along the boulevard would be removed.

That project stems from a waterfront traffic study that was completed in 2020 at the recommendation of council for the existing conditions, and to prepare for future growth.